Mortality of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction without standard modifiable risk factors among patients without known coronary artery disease: Age-stratified and sex-related analysis from nationwide readmissions database 2010-2014.

Objective: The proportion of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients without standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs: hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and smoking) has increased over time. The absence of SMuRFs is known to be associated with worse outcomes, but its association with age and sex is uncertain. We sought to evaluate the association between age and sex with the outcomes of post-STEMI patients without SMuRFs among patients without preexisting coronary artery disease. Methods: Patients who underwent primary PCI for STEMI were identified from the Nationwide Readmission Database of the United States. Clinical characteristics, in-hospital, and 30-day outcomes in patients with or without SMuRFs were compared in men versus women and stratified into five age groups. Results: Between January 2010 and November 2014, of 474,234 patients who underwent primary PCI for STEMI, 52,242 (11.0%) patients did not have SMuRFs. Patients without SMuRFs had higher in-hospital mortality rates than those with SMuRFs. Among those without SMuRFs, the in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in women than men (10.6% vs 7.3%, p<0.001), particularly in older age groups. The absence of SMuRFs was associated with higher 30-day readmission-related mortality rates (0.5% vs 0.3% with SMuRFs, p<0.001). Among patients without SMuRFs, women had a higher 30-day readmission-related mortality rates than men (0.6% vs 0.4%, p<0.001). After multivariable adjustment, the increased rates of in-hospital (odds ratio 1.89 (95% CI 1.72 to 2.07) and 30-day readmission-related mortality (hazard ratio 1.30 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.67)) in patients without SMuRFs remained significant. Conclusions: STEMI patients without SMuRFs have a significantly higher risk of in-hospital and 30-day mortality than those with SMuRFs. Women and older patients without SMuRFs experienced significantly higher in-hospital and 30-day readmission-related mortality.

Sex-Based Differences in 30-Day Readmissions After Cardiac Arrest: Analysis of the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Background There are limited data on the sex-based differences in the outcome of readmission after cardiac arrest. Methods and Results Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, we analyzed patients hospitalized with cardiac arrest between 2010 and 2015. Based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes, we identified comorbidities, therapeutic interventions, and outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the independent association between sex and outcomes. Of 835 894 patients, 44.4% (n=371 455) were women, of whom 80.7% presented with pulseless electrical activity (PEA)/asystole. Women primarily presented with PEA/asystole (80.7% versus 72.4%) and had a greater comorbidity burden than men, as assessed using the Elixhauser Comorbidity Score. Thirty-day readmission rates were higher in women than men in both PEA/asystole (20.8% versus 19.6%) and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation arrests (19.4% versus 17.1%). Among ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation arrest survivors, women were more likely than men to be readmitted because of noncardiac causes, predominantly infectious, respiratory, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Among PEA/asystole survivors, women were at higher risk for all-cause (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.07; [95% CI, 1.03-1.11]), cardiac-cause (aOR, 1.15; [95% CI, 1.06-1.25]), and noncardiac-cause (aOR, 1.13; [95% CI, 1.04-1.22]) readmission. During the index hospitalization, women were less likely than men to receive therapeutic procedures, including coronary angiography and targeted therapeutic management. While the crude case fatality rate was higher in women, in both ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (51.8% versus 47.4%) and PEA/asystole (69.3% versus 68.5%) arrests, sex was not independently associated with increased crude case fatality after adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics. Conclusions Women are at increased risk of readmission following cardiac arrest, independent of comorbidities and therapeutic interventions.

Personalized, Electronic Health Record-Integrated Decision Aid for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: A Small Cluster Randomized Trial and Qualitative Analysis of Efficacy and Acceptability.

BACKGROUND: Shared decision-making in cardiology is increasingly recommended to improve patient-centeredness of care. Decision aids can improve patient knowledge and decisional quality but are infrequently used in real-world practice. This mixed-methods study tests the efficacy and acceptability of a decision aid integrated into the electronic health record (Integrated Decision Aid [IDeA]) and delivered by clinicians for patients with atrial fibrillation considering options to reduce stroke risk. We aimed to determine whether the IDeA improves patient knowledge, reduces decisional conflict, and is seen as acceptable by clinicians and patients. METHODS: A small cluster randomized trial included 6 cardiovascular clinicians and 66 patients randomized either to the IDeA (HealthDecision) or usual care (clinician discretion) during a clinical encounter when stroke prevention treatment options were discussed. The primary outcome was patient knowledge of personalized stroke risk. Exploratory outcomes included decisional conflict, values concordance, trust, the presence of a shared decision-making process, and patient knowledge related to time spent using the IDeA. Additionally, we conducted semistructured interviews with clinicians and patients who used the IDeA were conducted to assess acceptability and predictions of future use. RESULTS: The IDeA significantly increased patients' knowledge of their stroke risk (odds ratio, 3.88 [95% CI, 1.39-10.78]; P<0.01]). Patients had less uncertainty about their final decision (P=0.04). There were no significant differences in values concordance, trust in clinician or shared decision-making. Despite training, each clinician used the IDeA differently. Qualitative analysis revealed patients prefer using the IDeA earlier in their diagnosis. Clinicians were satisfied with the IDeA, yet varied in the contexts in which they planned to use it in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Using an Integrated Decision Aid, or IDeA, increases patient knowledge and lessens uncertainty for decision-making around stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Qualitative data provide insight into potential implementation strategies in real-world practice.

The Learning Curve for Shared Decision-making in Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis.

Importance: Shared decision-making (SDM) is widely advocated for patients with valvular heart disease yet is not integrated into the heart team model for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis. Decision aids (DAs) have been shown to improve patient-centered outcomes and may facilitate SDM. Objective: To determine whether the repeated use of a DA by heart teams is associated with greater SDM, along with improved patient-centered outcomes and clinician attitudes about DAs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This mixed-methods study included a nonrandomized pre-post intervention and clinician interviews. It was conducted between April 30, 2015, and December 7, 2017, with quantitative analysis performed between January 12, 2017, and May 26, 2017, within 2 academic medical centers in northern New England among 35 patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who were at high to prohibitive risk for surgery. The qualitative analysis was performed between August 6, 2018, and May 7, 2019. The Severe Aortic Stenosis Decision Aid was delivered by 6 clinicians, with patients choosing between transcatheter aortic valve replacement and medical management. Main Outcomes and Measures: Clinician SDM performance was measured using the Observer OPTION5 scale with dual-independent coding of audiotaped clinic visits. Previsit and postvisit surveys measured the patient's knowledge, satisfaction, and decisional conflict. Audiotaped clinician interviews were coded, and qualitative thematic analysis was performed. Results: Six male clinicians and 35 patients (19 of 34 women [55.9%; 1 survey was missing]; mean [SD] age, 85.8 [7.8] years) participated in the study. Shared decision-making increased stepwise with repeated use of the DA (mean [SD] Observer OPTION5 scores: usual care, 17.9 [7.6]; first use of a DA, 60.5 [30.9]; fifth use of a DA, 79.0 [8.4]; P < .001 for comparison between usual care and fifth use of DA). Multiple uses of the DA were associated with increased patient knowledge (mean difference, 18.0%; 95% CI, 1.2%-34.8%; P = .04) and satisfaction (mean difference, 6.7%; 95% CI, 2.5%-10.8%; P = .01) but not decisional conflict (mean [SD]: usual care, 96.0% [9.4%]; first use of DA, 93.8% [12.5%]; fifth use of DA, 95.0% [11.2%]; P = .60). Qualitative analysis of clinicians' interviews revealed that clinicians perceived that they used an SDM approach without DAs and that the DA was not well understood by elderly patients. There was infrequent values clarification or discussion of stroke risk. Conclusion and Relevance: In a mixed-methods pilot study, use of a DA for severe aortic stenosis by heart team clinicians was associated with improved SDM and patient-centered outcomes. However, in qualitative interviews, heart team clinicians did not perceive a significant benefit of the DA, and therefore sustained implementation is unlikely. This pilot study of SDM clarifies new research directions for heart teams.